Moves on fish pirates scuppered

November 9, 2003 — 11.00am

Tighter controls on Southern Ocean pirate fishing were vetoed at an international meeting in Hobart, leaving organised crime's grip on the rich trade largely unchanged.

Russia blocked moves to blacklist a series of ships flying its flag, while Argentina stood in the way of a system to monitor legal fishing boats. The outcome leaves poachers room to keep on fishing in an estimated $220 million annual illegal trade in toothfish.

"The pirates have been put on notice," Australian delegation leader Tony Press said yesterday. "But like any transnational criminals, they adapt to the standards of the time. So arresting more of them is always going to be important."

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Speaking after the 24-nation Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources wrapped up a marathon two-week meeting, Dr Press said Australia remained very disappointed by the blockages. The commission makes decisions by consensus, meaning that one country can prevent agreement.

For the first time in its 22-year history, the commission did agree to a blacklist with the names of 10 vessels. Legal fishers said the real number of poachers was more like 40. Uruguay, flag state of the Australian-captured Viarsa, did not stand in the way of the blacklist, even though several of its boats were named.

But despite hours of negotiation, Russian officials refused to let any of its suspect vessels be included - not even the Volga, which has been under arrest by Australia in Perth for nearly two years.

Russia's intransigence is thought to be a serious concern to Australia, which believes its attitude may threaten environmental gains at our southern back door. The stonewalling could be linked to President Vladimir Putin's stated plans to expand Russia's global fishery.

Despite the intervention of Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Argentina refused to back a compulsory scheme to set up a centralised "black box" system to monitor the positions of all licensed fishing vessels in the region.

The scheme would be a key support for a legitimate toothfish trade, but the old dispute over the Falklands/Malvinas stood in the way. With the black box system reporting back to national governments, Argentina refused to concede that data from the far South Atlantic should go to Britain. Instead, a trial system has been agreed on.

Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said Australia's pursuit of the Viarsa in winter had hardened world opinion against illegal operators.